Price Research: Our research indicates that this Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7 10MP Digital Camera is $59 lower (17% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting at $348. - iconian

I've temporarily owned three Panasonic Lumix cameras on the recommendations of SDers. I forgot the model of the first one I owned, but then I purchased the SZ1 [amazon.com] and the ZS6 [amazon.com].

Never again.

I exclusively used the Casio Exilim line for several years before switching to Panasonic point-and-shoots, because for a long while, the Casio Exlilim line was the only "mainstream" camera to produce the smallest point-and-shoots that had a combination of quality and features. It was fantastic, but the early models lacked optical image stabilization. I also owned a [model unkown] Konika-Minolta DiMage camera, which was a great competitor to the thin/small point-and-shoot line from Canon.

I used Canon Powershots for a year, and it was adequate. They had fantastic image stabilization but produced grainy pictures when the auto-mode decided to bump up the ISO.

For the past few years, SD has been inundated with threads from users gushing about their experience with Panasonic Lumix cameras. I bought one to experiment with, used it for a week, and gave it away as a gift. I don't remember the model, but it was comparable to a Canon Digital Elph entry-level camera. I noticed the optical image stabilization was pretty bad on it.

Last year (or maybe two years ago), Woot.com had a sale on the refurbished Panasonic Lumix ZS6 [amazon.com]. It was retailing for nearly $380, but could be purchased for $130 from Woot that day. That thread on SD went straight to the front page, with everyone cheering it on as the best alternative to a DSLR. I received a chunky, brick-like camera that was missing the GPS chip (the description stated it had GPS, but apparently Panasonic ships two models; one with, and one without a GPS tagger). I was pleasantly surprised with daylight shots, but it wasn't until I tried night time shots that I realized that the camera's sensors were no different than an entry-level Canon Elph series camera. While the ZS6 touted a Carl Zeiss lens, I had to find out the hard way that a good lens is still meaningless if the CCD sensor cannot handle it's task. Anything above ISO 600 was grainy, and optical image stabilization was nearly non-existent, just like my previous Panasonic Lumix. I decided to stop by my local Best Buy to test their ZS6 model, in case my 'refurbished' model was actually damaged. Unfortunately, it gave me the same results.

A month ago, I purchased a Panasonic Lumix SZ1 [amazon.com] from Staples during their famous nation-wide camera clearance (with additional savings from a coupon - street price $190, sale price $68). Although this camera was bought as a gift, I had two weeks to use it for testing before I gave it away. It had the same problem as my previous two Lumix models: grainy shots at medium ISO and poor image stabilization.

When I speak of poor image stabilization, I compare it to my later-generation Casio Exilim (when they started introducing that feature) and the Canon Elph line. The Exlim model from 2007 had about the same stabilization as the 2012 Panasonic Lumix SZ1, wherein a slight shake from pressing the shutter button could be negated, but a strong push on the shutter button that moves the hand a few millimeters would ruin the entire photo in a blur of colors. That means that the 10x zoom would be useless, since at that range, even a steady hand couldn't compensate for the slight jitter of depressing a shutter button. The Panasonic Lumix models are put to shame when compared with an entry-level Canon Elph model. With the Canon, I could even be in motion and it would still take a shot without blur! For example, if you're walking along at 4MPH and start snapping photos without stopping, the entry-level Canon Elph line from 2009 could take blur-less photos once out of every three photos.

So, in owning the Panasonic Lumix entry-level to mid/high-level point-and-shoots, I've learned that this line of cameras are consistent in two ways: poor image processing for anything above 600 ISO, and poor optical image stabilization.

Now, I also have two other cameras. I have the Canon Rebel T2i DSLR [amazon.com] for work, and the Nikon Coolpix P510 [amazon.com] that I also picked up a month ago during the Staples clearance sale (original street price $350, sale price $175). The Canon T2i is what you would expect from an entry-level DSLR - great for almost any type of photo. It has slightly better image stabilization than the Panasonic Lumix, but not much. However, the surprise of my life was the Nikon Cooplix P510! That beast has a mean optical stabilization. When coupled with the ridiculous zoom (42x optical zoom!), you can take a picture of something a mile away and get a GREAT photo without any blur. Ranging from the 42x zoom that can take perfect photos, a macro that can take 1cm close photos (the user manual states 2cm, but I can get about 0.9cm with manual focus), the fantastic Nikkor lens coupled with an incredible CMOS sensor, the P510 blew my mind and is my camera of choice now. I'm going to start trying out the different lines of Nikon cameras, and may switch my work camera to a Nikon series if their professional DSLR lines are as impressive as their consumer line point-and-shoots.

Thanks for the post okinawanmatt, but I'm not sure how that is related to this post at all since you've never owned the LX7. The LX7 gets great reviews from dpreview (see my link above) and 99 people on Amazon[amazon.com]. Maybe the LX7 would change your mind about Panasonic? I've owned several and have zero complaints.

The Panasonic ZS6[amazon.com] has a street price of $350. This Panasonic LX7[amazon.com] has a street price of $350. Are you comparing features or price points when discussing "low end" cameras?

Quote
from Chimi
:

Thanks for the post okinawanmatt, but I'm not sure how that is related to this post at all since you've never owned the LX7. The LX7 gets great reviews from dpreview (see my link above) and 99 people on Amazon [amazon.com]. Maybe the LX7 would change your mind about Panasonic? I've owned several and have zero complaints.

Perhaps the LX7 is a good camera, but after reading dozens upon dozens of recommendations from SDers for the ZS and SZ line from Panasonic, I've learned not to trust their judgement. I won't be giving the LX7 a shot, but I figured it's my time to chime in and give useless camera advice

The Panasonic ZS6[amazon.com] has a street price of $350. This Panasonic LX7[amazon.com] has a street price of $350. Are you comparing features or price points when discussing "low end" cameras?

Perhaps the LX7 is a good camera, but after reading dozens upon dozens of recommendations from SDers for the ZS and SZ line from Panasonic, I've learned not to trust their judgement. I won't be giving the LX7 a shot, but I figured it's my time to chime in and give useless camera advice

Really? Now your just acting like a 2 year old.

You found an area that a couple camera's didn't work for you. Unless you feel those around here are just lying (as are Amazon and true camera review sights) than those people were happy with the camera for their needs.

You are mistaken if you think there is a single camera for all people in all situations.

You bring up a good point. Low light shooting was important to me, so I went a Sony NEX (with it's huge APS-C sensor). But alas it it is not as compact as I would like and would like an optical viewfinder. No camera is perfect.

And more importantly, passing judgement on an entire brand as the result of a camera or two is also silly. My NEX is just awesome. Easily taking pic's as most DSLR's (uses the same sensor) and good to very good quality lenses. So I bought a Sony P&S for my back pocket. I didn't expect the result to be close to the NEX, but I was very disappointed and switched to a Canon for a "jeans" camera.

While you are right to do your own research I've found SD'ers to be VERY knowledgeable (almost to a fault). And a great place to start research on a good deal.

You might disagree with those that reviewed or commented on the cameras you bought, but at least they were talking about those cameras. Posting totally unrelated items just for the sake of posting (or out of spite?) just causes confusion while adding absolutely nothing.

You found an area that a couple camera's didn't work for you. Unless you feel those around here are just lying (as are Amazon and true camera review sights) than those people were happy with the camera for their needs.

You are mistaken if you think there is a single camera for all people in all situations.

You bring up a good point. Low light shooting was important to me, so I went a Sony NEX (with it's huge APS-C sensor). But alas it it is not as compact as I would like and would like an optical viewfinder. No camera is perfect.

And more importantly, passing judgement on an entire brand as the result of a camera or two is also silly. My NEX is just awesome. Easily taking pic's as most DSLR's (uses the same sensor) and good to very good quality lenses. So I bought a Sony P&S for my back pocket. I didn't expect the result to be close to the NEX, but I was very disappointed and switched to a Canon for a "jeans" camera.

While you are right to do your own research I've found SD'ers to be VERY knowledgeable (almost to a fault). And a great place to start research on a good deal.

You might disagree with those that reviewed or commented on the cameras you bought, but at least they were talking about those cameras. Posting totally unrelated items just for the sake of posting (or out of spite?) just causes confusion while adding absolutely nothing.

You're right. Posting about non-related cameras does seem spiteful. Now tell me more about that Sony NEX. I was looking into purchasing one myself, but saw a few bad reviews for the first generation of those alphas. What DSLRs have you owned, and how does it compare? My opinion on the Nikon P510 is that it's near the same quality as the Canon Rebel T2i I use at work, but the single lens it holds is incredibly versatile so it covers a range of interchangeable lenses I use for the Canon Rebel. In your experience, do you get the same feeling out of using the Sony Alphas?

You found an area that a couple camera's didn't work for you. Unless you feel those around here are just lying (as are Amazon and true camera review sights) than those people were happy with the camera for their needs.

You are mistaken if you think there is a single camera for all people in all situations.

You bring up a good point. Low light shooting was important to me, so I went a Sony NEX (with it's huge APS-C sensor). But alas it it is not as compact as I would like and would like an optical viewfinder. No camera is perfect.

And more importantly, passing judgement on an entire brand as the result of a camera or two is also silly. My NEX is just awesome. Easily taking pic's as most DSLR's (uses the same sensor) and good to very good quality lenses. So I bought a Sony P&S for my back pocket. I didn't expect the result to be close to the NEX, but I was very disappointed and switched to a Canon for a "jeans" camera.

While you are right to do your own research I've found SD'ers to be VERY knowledgeable (almost to a fault). And a great place to start research on a good deal.

You might disagree with those that reviewed or commented on the cameras you bought, but at least they were talking about those cameras. Posting totally unrelated items just for the sake of posting (or out of spite?) just causes confusion while adding absolutely nothing.

While I do agree it's a bit uncharacteristic for people to comment at length about cameras of a different model from the same company, if you've read any laptop thread on SD you'll see a few comments regarding "build quality" of the manufacturer. Though the build quality may differ between different models (e.g. a Lenovo U vs Y series), posters on SD seem to look the other way when it comes such posts (i.e. a poster commenting on his Y series laptop and making an overall comment about Lenovo build quality on a post about U series laptop). Granted, the majority of them are not exceedingly lengthly, they do crop up and people do not make an issue of it.

Unless it's overly critical, harsh, or devolves into ad hominem attacks, I'm all for additional comments. OkinawaMatt clarified that these were other Panasonic models which did not deliver and meet his expectations. I don't think he's here to threadcrap and say "OMG what a shitty deal!" just offering his .02 on his experiences with Panasonic cameras. It does not in any way, shape, or form seem spiteful. While I definitely have had better luck with them, I respect and endorse his ability to offer his perspective.

I own this camera and it's a great low light camera. For $289 you can't go wrong. By the way I own a Nikon D7000 and D5100 and the LX7 is a nice compliment to both of these. It's great when you don't want to carry the larger DSLR's.

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